Construction block assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns improvements in hollow building blocks, such as cement or cinder blocks and a method for assembling same. The hollow blocks of the present invention have a male tongue at one end, a groove for receiving the tongue at the opposite end, and an intermediate offset transverse web of a thickness slightly exceeding the depth of a groove. In assembly, the blocks of each course are arranged with tongues reversed from those of lower course and with each joint situated over the web of a lower block.

United States Patent [191 Leandri [4 1 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] CONSTRUCTIONBLOCK ASSEMBLY 2,737,801 3/1956 Barnhart ..52/606 x Inventor: Boulevardde 2 t X Reuilly, Paris, France I Primary ExammerPr1ce C. Faw, Jr. [22]Flled: 1970 AttorneyLane, Aitken, Dunner & Ziems [21] Appl. No.: 91,707

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl. ..52/436, 52/272, 52/595 The present inventionconcerns improvements in 51 rm. Cl. ..E04b 2/18, E04 7/10 low buildingblocks, such as cement or einder blocks [58] Field of Search ..52/284,436, 593, 595, 286, and a method for assembling same. The hollow blocks52/437, 272 of the present invention have a male tongue at one end, agroove for receiving the tongue at the opposite [56] References Citedend, and an intermediate offset transverse web of a thickness slightlyexceeding the depth of a groove. In UNITED STATES PATENTS assembly, theblocks of each course are arranged with 1,409,284 3/1922 DeFernelmont..52/436 tongues reversed from those of lower course and with 3,256,6576/1966 each joint situated over the web of a lower block. 1,430,4319/1922 2,028,997 1/1936 Schmitz ..52/284 X 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ii 1 1 l I l n i I p A I l i I J l l i m g L h BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Conventional construction blocks are hollow or have openingswhich make the blocks lighter to facilitate handling and which serve tocreate air spaces which improve the heat insulation properties of theblocks. In present construction methods, the general practice is toallow openings to pass completely through the blocks and thereby permitair to circulate throughout the entire height of a wall formed by theblocks, which circulation serves to speed evaporation and to preventaccumulations of humidity.

In conventional block construction, the mortar mixes used are ingeneral, very fluid and the presence of an opening under the clearancein the joint permits the mortar to drain out. If enough of the mortardrains in this fashion, the strength of the joint will be adverselyaffected.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a block whichmay be adapted to a technique of assembly wherein the mortar in eachjoint of a given course is retained by a block of the course beneath it.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a constructionblock which makes possible savings in labor time and labor skill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that the foregoing andrelated objectives can be achieved by use of a tongue and grooveconstruction block having an offset intermediate web portion whichpresents a solid surface for retention of mortar in a joint of the nexthigher course. The offset web is of a width only slightly exceeding thedepth of the groove so that the retaining surface may be provided inkeeping with the auxiliary object of providing a lightweight block.

The offset feature referred to above additionally allows for a pleasingaesthetic effect wherein each joint of the finished wall is centeredwith respect to the face of a lower block.

In assembly the blocks of each course are arranged with their tonguesfacing in a direction opposite from that of the next higher and lowercourses. This staggered construction is made possible by provision ofspecial angle blocks, each of which has a receiving groove located at aright angle to its tongue.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a course of thetongue and groove blocks of this invention at the angle of a wallsection constructed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the course above and below the one shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation showing a wall section constructed accordingto the method of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a block as used in the wall of FIG. 3with dotted lines showing the disposition of a joint in the lowercourse;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken on line j-j ofFIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, itmay be seen how special angle blocks, d and e, allow the blocks of eachcourse to be staggered with respect to the blocks of the adjacentcourses. If the course of FIG. 2 is superimposed on the course of FIG.1, and a third course identical to that of FIG. 1 superimposed on both,the result is a wall section as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows that eachjoint is centered with respect to the face of a lower block to producean aesthetic symmetry.

FIG. 4 shows a construction block of this invention having a pair oftransversely spaced longitudinal webs m which establish generallyrectangular front and rear side faces, a pair of transversely extendingend web portions n and 0, and an intennediate transverse web portion it.Web portion n has a vertically oriented, longitudinally projectingtongue a. Web portion 0 has a complementing tongue receiving groove b.Line i-i represents the joint between blocks located in the courseimmediately above or below block c. The tongue a is somewhat smallerthan the receiving groove b which feature results in a clearance k(FIGS. 4 and 5). The clearance k of the tongue and groove joint whichreceives the mortar is situated over the solid intermediate web h. Theupper surface of the web h serves to retain the mortar in the clearancek.

Referring again to FIG. 4, it may be seen that the solid intermediateweb h is offset with respect to the center line of the block 0. Thesolid web h lies transverse to the length of the block and extendsthrough the center line but only so far as to provide a good seal withclearance k. .Any further extension of the width of web h toward eitherthe tongue or the groove would only serve to create unnecessary weight.Because of this offset feature it follows that there is a dissymmetry inthe openings or hollows f and g of the block c.

Iclaim:

l. A structure comprising a plurality of blocks arranged in a pluralityof successive courses and the blocks in each course arranged in aninterfitting end-toend relationship while the blocks in each course aresymmetrically offset from the blocks in each adjacent course; each ofsaid blocks including a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal webportions to establish front and rear faces, first and secondtransversely extending web portions disposed between said longitudinalweb portions to establish the ends of said block, said first transverseweb portion including a verticallyoriented longitudinally-projectingtongue, a portion of said block including a groove generallycomplementing said tongue, each of said tongues and grooves being ofrelative sizes so that a mortar receiving space is defined between allthe complementing surfaces of said tongue and groove in adjacent blocksin .each course, each of said blocks being generally hollow inconstruction and further including an offset transverse web portiondefining at least one hollow portion on either side thereof between saidoffset transverse web portion and said first and second transverse webportions, the hollow portion on one side of said offset web portionbeing larger in its longitudinal dimension than the hollow portion onthe other side of said offset web portion by at least the width of theoffset web portion, said offset web portion being of a width slightlygreater than the width 3. The structure in claim 1, wherein the groovein each of said blocks is formed in one of the longitudinal webs of thel'locks in said portion and said second transverse web portion has anouter planar face to establish a comer joint.

4. The structure in claim 1, wherein the blocks in each course arearranged with their tongues and grooves facing in a direction oppositefrom that of the blocks in the adjacent courses.

1. A structure comprising a plurality of blocks arranged in a pluralityof successive courses and the blocks in each course arranged in aninterfitting end-to-end relationship while the blocks in each course aresymmetrically offset from the blocks in each adjacent course; each ofsaid blocks including a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal webportions to establish front and rear faces, first and secondtransversely extending web portions disposed between said longitudinalweb portions to establish the ends of said block, said first transverseweb portion including a vertically-oriented longitudinally-projectingtongue, a portion of said block including a groove generallycomplementing said tongue, each of said tongues and grooves being ofrelative sizes so that a mortar receiving space is defined between allthe complementing surfaces of said tongue and groove in adjacent blocksin each course, each of said blocks being generally hollow inconstruction and further including an offset transverse web portiondefining at least one hollow portion on either side thereof between saidoffset transverse web portion and said first and second transverse webportions, the hollow portion on one side of said offset web portionbeing larger in its longitudinal dimension than the hollow portion onthe other side of said offset web portion by at least the width of theoffset web portion, said offset web portion being of a width slightlygreater than the width of said groove and offset from the center of saidblock a distance sufficient to act as a mortar retaining surface for themortar in the mortar receiving space between adjacent blocks in theoverlying course while maintaining the symmetrically offset relationshipbetween blocks in adjacent courses.
 2. The structure in claim 1, whereinthe groove in each of said blocks is included in the second transverseweb portion and both of said longitudinal webs in the blocks in saidportion have planar faces to establish a wall.
 3. The structUre in claim1, wherein the groove in each of said blocks is formed in one of thelongitudinal webs of the blocks in said portion and said secondtransverse web portion has an outer planar face to establish a cornerjoint.
 4. The structure in claim 1, wherein the blocks in each courseare arranged with their tongues and grooves facing in a directionopposite from that of the blocks in the adjacent courses.